Pelargonium plant named &#39;pactiopea&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct interspecific Geranium plant named ‘Pactiopea’, characterized by its broadly upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and large light red purple-colored semi-double flowers with red-colored splotches, markings and venation; flowers held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium x hortorum X Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACTIOPEA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of interspecific Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium x hortorum X Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pactiopea’.

The new interspecific Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new vigorous interspecific Geranium plants that are suitable for garden use.

The new interspecific Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2011 of an unnamed proprietary selection of Pelargonium x hortorum, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new interspecific Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany during the spring of 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new interspecific Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since January, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new interspecific Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new interspecific Geranium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pactiopea’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pactiopea’ as a new and distinct interspecific Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large light red purple-colored semi-double flowers with         red-colored splotches, markings and venation; flowers held above         the foliar plane on strong peduncles.

Plants of the new interspecific Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in growth habit as plants of the new interspecific Geranium are more vigorous than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new interspecific Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium x hortorum X Pelargonium peltatum ‘Pactioscar’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/545,189. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new interspecific Geranium differ from plants of ‘Pactioscar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new interspecific Geranium are darker         green in color and do not have a discernible zonation pattern         whereas leaves of plants of ‘Pactioscar’ are lighter green in         color and have a zonation pattern.     -   2. Plants of the new interspecific Geranium have larger flowers         than plants of ‘Pactioscar’.     -   3. Plants of the new interspecific Geranium and ‘Pactioscar’         differ in flower color as plants of ‘Pactioscar’ have         scarlet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new interspecific Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new interspecific Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pactiopea’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the winter, spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial interspecific Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were three months old when the photograph was taken and nine months old when the detailed description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium x hortorum ‘Pactiopea’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium x hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounding plant             habit; broad inverted triangle; densely foliated; vigorous             growth habit; rapid growth rate; freely basal branching             habit with about 23 lateral branches developing per plant;             pinching is not required.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 55 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Internode length: About 1 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite and alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Rounded; roughly reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate, open.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent;             leathery.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 146A. Zonation pattern: Not discernible.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Large semi-double             flowers arranged in roughly hemispherical umbels arising             from apical leaf axils; umbels displayed above the foliar             plane on strong peduncles; flowers face upright to             outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 15 flower buds             and flowers per umbel and about 56 umbels developing per             plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit; plants begin             flowering about 70 days after planting; in the garden in             Germany, flowering begins in April and continues until frost             in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to ten days on the             plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant;             flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.3 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Spindle-shaped. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five to six; petals             imbricate. Length, upper petals: About 3.4 cm. Length, lower             petals: About 2.6 cm. Width, upper petals: About 2.6 cm.             Width, lower petals: Close to 2.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 62A;             central splotches and markings, close to 46C; venation,             close to 46A; color does not change with development. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 62D;             venation, close to 52C; color does not change with             development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about three arranged             at the center of the flower. Length: About 1 cm. Width:             About 5 mm. Shape: Irregularly shaped. Apex: Acute to             rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth to crinkled, glabrous. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 62A;             venation, close to 46A; color does not change with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 62D; venation, close to 52C; color does not change             with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm to 3 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly upright.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 1.6 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About eleven. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Tubular. Anther color: Close to 61A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 167A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma             shape: Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 58B. Style             length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 58B. Ovary color:             Close to 139D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development             have not been observed on plants of the new interspecific             Geranium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new interspecific Geranium     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to interspecific Geraniums. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new interspecific Geranium have     been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to     about 35° C. to 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct interspecific Geranium plant named ‘Pactiopea’ as illustrated and described. 